§§ 34-49 & 64-72 & 74 — DEP FEES AND RELATED PROVISIONS

This bill decreases several sportsman's fees and caps camping and state park fees.
The bill also creates and allows for donations of at least $ 2 to the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation account.

The bill requires that funds accruing from any permit, tag, or stamp fees, excluding the migratory bird conservation stamp and fees paid by trappers and anglers, fund the programs and functions of the Bureau of Natural Resources within the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) according to federal regulations. It also requires the DEP to submit an annual report to the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, detailing the funds raised, expenses, and spending purposes of sportsman's fees and stamps.

The bill requires the DEP commissioner to establish (1) procedures and business processes for using the internet and other means for communication to conduct transactions for licenses, permits, stamps, and tags and (2) a schedule of the parts of fees agents may retain.

The bill also increases, to $ 87 from $ 77, the fee for any violation of the sportsmen's statutes for which no other fee is specified.

Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp and Donation

The bill decreases, from $ 15 to $ 13, the fee for purchasing a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp which a person must have to hunt waterfowl (CGS § 26-27b). It also eliminates the (1) requirement that the stamp have the hunter's signature written in ink across the stamp's face, (2) July 1 issuance date, and (3) town clerks' ability to retain a $ . 50 fee for stamp issuance. It allows the DEP commissioner to set the issuance fee that agents may retain instead of the current $ . 50 fee. It requires the Citizens' Advisory Board for the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp to advise the commissioner on the expenditure of funds generated from the sale of stamps and art products.

The bill also creates and allows for additional donations of at least $ 2 to be deposited into the Voluntary Migratory Bird Conservation Donation subaccount, within the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation account. The account is a separate, non-lapsing account maintained by the state treasurer within the General Fund. Funds in the account must only be used for (1) developing, managing, preserving, conserving, acquiring, purchasing, and maintaining waterfowl habitat and wetlands or acquisition of related recreational rights or interests or (2) designing, producing, promoting, procuring, and selling prints and related artwork.

Decreased Sportsman's Fees and Supersport Licenses

Resident Sportsman's Licenses. The bill creates two new resident firearms supersport licenses: (1) all waters fishing, firearms hunting, firearms shotgun or rifle private land deer hunting, wild turkey hunting in spring on private land, and muzzleloading on private land for an $ 84 annual fee or (2) all waters fishing, firearms hunting, migratory bird conservation stamp, and migratory bird harvest permit for a $ 60 annual fee.
With two exceptions, the bill decreases resident sportsman's fees as shown in Table 2 (CGS § 26-28). The exceptions are for resident firearms supersport fees, which the bill establishes.

Camping and State Park Fees

The bill caps the fees for leasing state campsites and buildings and parking, admission, boat launching, and other uses to no greater than (1) 135% of the fees charged April 1, 2009 for residents and (2) 150% of the fees charged April 1, 2009 for non-residents. The DEP commissioner must set these fees by May 1, 2010.

Restoration

Current law states that Connecticut assents to the provisions of the congressional acts entitled “Pitman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act” and “Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act,” which provide that no funds accruing to the state from license fees paid by fishermen or hunting licenses shall be diverted for any other purpose than the protection, propagation, preservation and investigation of fish and game and administration of the functions of the related department. The bill includes funds accruing from any permit, tag, or stamp fees, excluding the migratory bird conservation stamp and fees paid by trappers and anglers; real or personal property acquired with a license, permit, tag, and stamp fees; and interest, dividends, or other income earned from the license, permit, tag, and stamp fees. The bill requires the fees to fund the programs and functions of the Bureau of Natural Resources within DEP according to federal regulations.

The bill requires the DEP to submit, by October 1, an annual report to the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program chief, within the Fish and Wildlife Service of the federal Department of the Interior. The report must include, for the year ending June 30, the (1) total license, permit, stamp, and tag fees paid by hunters, trappers, and anglers, excluding the Connecticut Migratory Bird Stamp, and any interest, dividends, and sale or lease payments from assets purchased with license, permit, stamp, and tag revenues; (2) amounts expended on fish and wildlife programs; and (3) purposes for the spent funds. The report must also include the total expenditures amounts for (1) protection, propagation, preservation, and investigation of fish and game; (2) operation, administration, and maintenance of fish and wildlife facilities; (3) operation and administration of wildlife management areas, fish and wildlife access areas, and angler and hunter education and outreach programs; (4) restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitats; and (5) administration of fish and wildlife technical assistance programs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the camping and state park provisions, which are effective upon passage and apply to fees collected after May 1, 2010.


Here is the new fees schedule.